Kissable Assassin

Chapter 8

It’s only in the end when you were gone. I didn’t realize what I had lost. Now everything else is meaningless, now I’m laying in bed sick with regret, at 3 AM.

I don't know what tempted me to lean in. Maybe it was the craving for a connection to Austin. Maybe it was the craving for love. Or maybe it was the fear of not doing it at all. I don't know if Sean was expecting it, or if he wanted it. But, he didn't mind that moment. He kissed me back. I was scared that he'd snap to senses and push me away, but he didn't. Maybe he felt sorry for me. Maybe he knew I needed it. Or maybe he liked it too. It was a small kiss, only a few seconds. I pull away, kind of...embarrassed. He doesn't seem like it though. As a matter of fact, he looked a little exhilarated. He leans in again, and I consider not letting him, but I hesitated at executing it and forget about it when he kisses me again. He's gentle, soft, and I return the favor. I hook my arms around his neck so he didn't have to keep his arm around my shoulder. Instead, it falls to my waist. There's a sudden burst of wind that makes my hair flare up and get in my face, and I have to pull away so I'm not kissing it. He brushes the hair out of my face and it flies behind me. We gaze at each other for a moment, searching for something deep within our eyes.

It's intense until he smiles again.

"You're a good kisser eh?" He teases. I make a face, one where I have to clench my mouth together to hold back the laugh that was threatening to pass, and shove him away playfully.

"Not bad yourself, jackass," I retort.

"Jackass? Why would you call me a jackass?" He asks in mock sadness.

"Because you keep smirking at me, like you've won something!" I argue.

"And jackasses do that?" He jokes. I sigh and roll my eyes, standing up. He follows me, and before I know it, he's right next to me. He bumps my shoulder, causing me to trip sideways. I don't fall, so I use the force to bump him back. He ignores it and speeds ahead. I catch up to him and pass him. He presses on, and soon enough, it's a full on sprinting race. My legs were pumping as fast and hard and long as they could. Then I veer to the left, right behind him, catching him off guard. Now off the trail, I have no idea where to go. I keep dodging art and trees, and I hear him following me. I hope he knows that I'm just playing, not actually trying to escape. He's laughing, so I think he knows. Seeing as we were kissing seconds ago, he should've presumed as much.

I trip again, and this time, I fall. My hands break it, and I feel my wrists pop. They don't break, but by God, they hurt. Sean skids next to me, spraying dirt my direction.

"Are you okay?" He asks urgently. I do something then, something that neither he not I expected. I roll over, and I laugh. I laugh so hard, my ribs and abs ache. His expression is so confused, I laugh even harder. Then I get him to laugh with me. I must look like a total idiot, rolling on the ground, laughing my ass off. I grab his ankle and yank on it, sending him down next to me. Sean shoves me over. In return, I punch him in the arm.

It's not long before we're full-on wrestling. I knew it was ever-so slightly inappropriate, with us rolling on top of one another, trying to pin the other's shoulders to the ground, but I didn't care. It was fun. I laugh at the thought. I hadn't had fun since Austin died. We would chase each other around the woods, scare each other, steal a kiss, and repeat. Sean was strong too, as was I. It was one of the traits I valued. But he was stronger than me, and soon enough I was pinned by his weight in the ground, unable to move. We were both breathing hard gasps.

"I'll make you a bet," He challenges.

"What kind of bet?" I respond.

"If you can get out from under me in the next ten seconds, you win. If you can't, I get another kiss," He wagers.